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Disability rights treaty

By John Lloyd on Sep. 10, 2008.

The International Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is holding a program and live Webcast entitled, “The New International Disability Rights Treaty And Why the Disability Community Should Care” on Wednesday, 17 September, from 2:00-3:15. The event, which is co-sponsored by Easter Seals, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, features presentations by Katherine Guernsey (attorney and adjunct professor, American University), Alison Hillman de Velásquez (director of Americas Programs, Mental Disability Rights International), and Elisabeth Doyle (health and disability practice at Powers, Pyles, Sutter, and Verville).

To register for the event, click here. Folks who can make it to the Easter Seals offices in Washington (DC, US) should contact Jennifer Dexter at (jdexter_at_easterseals.com) about reserving a seat. For more information, contact David Hutt of the National Disabilities Rights Network at david.hutt_at_ndrn.org.

To learn more about the CCD, click here.

Assistant Research Professor:Project Coordinator

By jgcp on Sep. 9, 2008.

University of Kansas: Assistant Research Professor

Working title: Project Coordinator

Position Number: 00207039

Position Overview: Juniper Gardens Children’s Project is a community-based research institute affiliated with the University of Kansas. We are seeking an Assistant Research Professor who will work with a multi-site team of senior researchers who are collaborating on a new center funded by the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct research to prevent reading delays. The research group, called the Center on Response to Intervention in Early Childhood, is conducting a nationally prominent program of research to develop and validate preschool-level measures for monitoring children’s progress acquiring language and early literacy skills and to develop and evaluate interventions for children who are not making expected rates of progress. A highly skilled individual is sought who with the team of Principal Investigators will provide national leadership in this area of research.
Continuation is contingent on a satisfactory yearly employee evaluation and funding availability. Position will be responsible for project coordination and leadership for externally funded research projects with the intention of later developing an independent research program within the center. Candidate must sucessfully pass a background check.
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Palin news

By John Lloyd on Sep. 9, 2008.

Though I have no intention of creating the turning SpedPro into a focus on Sarah Palin and Special Education, I thought some might find it helpful to have a set of links to other sources about the topic. Herewith, my current collection. Please add others by commenting.

There are two threads (stories?) entwined in the brouhaha over Ms. Palin’s connection to special education: (a) Her choice to deliver a baby with Down Syndrome and (b) her gubernatorial record on funding of special education in Alaska. And then, there’s about 30-11 different spins on each thread.

On the child:

• New York Times: Parents of Special-Needs Children Divided Over Palin’s Promise to Help;
• Washington Post: The Support the Palins Really Need;
• Los Angeles Times: Trig Palin’s story is safe ground for the Republican ticket;
• Wall Street Journal: Palin’s Pitch to Parents of Disabled Raises Some Doubts;
• Philadelphia Inquirer: Disability advocates see Palin as a leader;
• Ed Week: Palin Raises Hope for Parents of Disabled Children;
• Bakersfield Californian: Parents share experiences as Palin’s nomination puts focus on Down syndrome;
• Newsweek: Trig’s Promise–Advocates for the disabled receive Sarah Palin’s pledge of support with the wary optimism of a group accustomed to unfulfilled promises (see later entry, too);
• USA Today: A spotlight for special needs; Parents hope Palin lifts awareness of Down syndrome

On the funding:

• DailyKos: Palin cut Special Education budget by 62%
• Huffington Post: Palin Gutted Special Ed Funding In Alaska
• Newsweek: Sliming Palin.
• Dakota Voice: Fact Checking the Palin Slimers

A very good way to keep up is to monitor Christina Samuels’ blog, On Special Education; she has three entries (8 September, 5 September, and 4 September). For the latest on both stories, try this Google news search.

Palin and special education

By John Lloyd on Sep. 8, 2008.

For those who are seeking accurate reporting about Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sara Palin and her action regarding special education funding as governor of Alaska, Christina Samuels has the best content I know. She’s thoroughly examined the evidence and laid to rest some of the misinformation that’s floating around the Internet. Link to her post on the subject.